Kurds Approve Heavy Weapons For Themselves, Baghdad Says No

Just days after the Kurdish Regional Government called on
the United States to cancel
an order of fighter
jets headed to Iraq, the K.R.G. approved for its own use
all types of weapons. Baghdad quickly warned the Kurds that their possession of
tanks and warplanes is against the Iraqi constitution.

M.P. Sami al-Askari, a close aide to Prime Minister Nouri
al-Maliki, further stated that any heavy weaponry seized after the fall of
Saddam must be turned over to the central government. The Kurds countered by
saying that the constitution does not specify what types of arms they are
allowed.

The Kurds clearly fear
an authoritarian Baghdad, but Baghdad gave a more subtle reason for fearing
Kurdish weapons. Sa’ad al-Motallebi, another member of the State of Law
coalition, claimed in
an interview with Press TV that the weapons could fall into the hands of
terrorists (meaning Kurdish rebels), who would then use them against Turkey or
Iran, undermining international relations.

Motallebi also conceded that Baghdad does not have the means
to take the weapons by force. Besides using the weapons to protect themselves
from Baghdad, the Kurds could also use the weapons to defend themselves from
Turkish and Iranian incursions. Ankara and Tehran have frequently crossed into
Kurdish territory to attack rebels.

Meanwhile, new violence at least three Iraqis killed and
17 more wounded.